It may not have the same intensity as the rivalry that has developed between the Sens and Habs, but Saturday's contest between the two clubs' AHL affiliates will give fans of both franchises a peek into the feud of the future.

Top prospects on the Binghamton Senators and Hamilton Bulldogs will battle it out at Canadian Tire Centre Saturday (7 p.m.), and B-Sens head coach Luke Richardson said there's plenty at stake.

"The players in both organizations would have at least watched the (2013) playoff series, so they understand what the rivalry is all about, and we've certainly felt that (intensity) in games we've played against Hamilton and against the (Maple Leafs affiliate) Toronto Marlies," said Richardson.

Fans will already be familiar with callups Mike Hoffman -- who ranks second in the AHL scoring race -- playoff hero Jean-Gabriel Pageau and fellow Ottawa native Mark Borowiecki, but Richardson said prospect-watchers will see those players in a whole new light.

"(Fans) have seen what they can do at the NHL level, but it'll be neat for them to see them be a dominant player at the AHL level," he said. "They'll be playing on a bigger stage (in Ottawa, and again in a rematch at the Bell Centre), and management for both teams will be there watching. It's a good chance to evaluate over the Olympic break with the trade deadline coming (March 5). And it's a good chance for the players to show their worth."

Richardson has no doubt Hoffman will find his way back to the big leagues.

"He's a special player and I hope he gets more opportunity to show that at the next level," he said. "He plays the point on the power play, he plays with such confidence and he's a guy who can dominate with his skills and speed. It should be a good game for our guys to strut their stuff."

While most Sens fans are already familiar with Pageau, Borowiecki and Hoffman from their time in Ottawa, Richardson hopes fans will pay special attention to some relatively unheralded prospects like 21-year-old Swedish defenceman Fredrik Claesson, a former Djurgarden and B-Sens teammate of pal Mika Zibanejad.

"He plays against every single top player in our league and he plays at least 25 minutes a night, and yet he's (ranked second in the AHL with) a plus-29," Richardson gushed. "He's got a great attitude, he's very mature for a young kid and he's really taken advantage of the opportunity."

Saturday's game will present Luke Richardson with another opportunity to further the cause of his family's Do It For Daron campaign, named in honour of his daughter in support of youth mental health initiatives.

Both the B-Sens and the big club have embraced the DIFD charity, said Richardson.

"The hockey world has really been supportive of us and our family," he said, calling Saturday's game, as well as recent games in both Ottawa and Binghamton as a "triple threat for the cause."

"We're getting some awareness out to the young people and the community of Binghamton and Ottawa, so it's really been rewarding."

And the B-Sens aren't just paying lip service to the cause.

On Friday, players will visit five area schools will talk about the importance of youth mental health while relating their own experiences in the world of hockey.

Mark Borowiecki will return to his former elementary school, St. Anne Catholic School in Kanata, while former Ottawa 67 and Gloucester native Corey Cowick will return to Robert Hopkins Public School.

Pageau and Matt Puempel will visit Manordale Public School, Shane Prince and Mark Stone will visit Frank Ryan Catholic School in Kanata and Jim O'Brien and goalie Nathan Lawson will be at A. Lorne Cassidy School in Stittsville.

aedan.helmer@sunmedia.ca

@OttSunHelmer

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

27 MIKE HOFFMAN, LW

GP 41 G 23 A 32 Pts. 55

Reigning AHL player of the week capped a seven-game scoring streak with a four-goal game.

18 SHANE PRINCE, LW

GP 41 G 13 A 17 Pts. 30

Former 67's scoring star brings speed and determination, picked up five assists in last two games.

44 JEAN-GABRIEL PAGEAU, C

GP 24 G 7 A 17 Pts. 24

Responded to November demotion with 14 points in his first eight games. Cue the Pageau Song.

3 FREDRIK CLAESSON, D

GP 47 G 2 A 20 Pts. 22

Tasked with shutting down the AHL's best and often wins. Plus-29 is second in the AHL.

5 MARK BOROWIECKI

GP 34 G 1 A 2 Pts. 3

If you need a big hit to spark the bench, BoroCop is your guy, as Sens fans saw in a 13-game stint this season.

Sens vs. Habs, the future

Big clubs' affiliates to square off Saturday in Ottawa

It may not have the same intensity as the rivalry that has developed between the Sens and Habs, but Saturday's contest between the two clubs' AHL affiliates will give fans of both franchises a peek into feud of the future.

Top prospects on the Binghamton Senators and Hamilton Bulldogs will battle it out at Canadian Tire Centre Saturday (7 p.m.), and B-Sens head coach Luke Richardson said there's plenty at stake.

"The players in both organizations would have at least watched the (2013) playoff series, so they understand what the rivalry is all about, and we've certainly felt that (intensity) in games we've played against Hamilton and against the (Maple Leafs affiliate) Toronto Marlies," said Richardson.